Tube sealing machine



June 26, 1945. F. J. COZZOLI TUBE SEALING MACHINE 1942 4 Sheets-Sheet 1Filed June 10 INVENTOR BY M ATTORNEY June 26, 1945. F. cozzou 2,379,343

TUBE SEALING MACHINE Filed June 10, 1942 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 |NVENTORATTORNEY F. J. COZZOLI TUBE S June 26, 1945.

EALING MACHINE Filed June 10, 1942 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 BY ATTORNEY June19454 F. J. cozzou TUBE SEALTNG MACHTNE Filed June 10, 1942 4Sheets-Sheet INVENTOR' ATTORNEY Patented June 26, 1945 UNITED STATESPATENT OFFICE TUBE SEALING MACHINE Frank J. Cozzoli, Plainfield, N. J.Application June 10, 1942, Serial No. 446,523

8 Claims.

The present invention relates to glass working machinery and moreparticularly to an improved mechanism for drawing and sealing smallglass tubes containin pharmaceutical preparations or accessories in theliquid or dry state. A primary aim of the invention is to renderavailable a mechanism capable of modification and adaptation to suitvarious tube drawing and sealing operations on various shapes, lengths,and thicknesses of glass tubes so that a given machine may be used forsealing a variety of classes of packaged material. I

A further aim of the invention is to effect a tube sealing operation ina manner providing assurance that the tubes so sealed will not, aftercompletion of the sealing operation, contain small leaks or cracks thatwould render the packaged goods unfit for subsequent use or handling.

Another aim of the invention is to render available an improved tubesealin mechanism which mechanism which is self-adjusting in character tocompensate for the slight variations in tube diameters and which is alsoadjustable to suit tubes of different diameters with similarcompensating action to meet slight variations in such different sizes oftubes. And by way of further refinement, to render available a machin inwhich not only tubes of different sizes and lengths may be sealed, butin which the length or extent of drawing out of a tube of a given sizemay be varied to suit the drawing properties and character of the glassand wall thickness of that tube or tubes, and the nature of the sealdesired, i. e., a long stemmed seal or a relatively short stemmed seal.

Still another object of the invention is to prevent tubes from bendingor deforming themselves out of alignment durin the heating and softeningstage so that the mechanism provided for gripping and drawing the tubescan operate efficiently in a prearranged cycl and whereby the machine asa whole is caused to produce tight seals on a run of tubesnotwithstanding slight variations in tube wall thickness or diameter.

A further object of the invention is to provide an improved machine fortube sealing work which is completely self-contained and embodies allthe adjuncts necessary to a glass working apparatus and which is simplyconstructed and assembled and capable of being repeatedly adapted toautomatically efiect secure seals for various types of tubes and ontubes of .difi'erent sizes.

In carrying forward the objectives of this invention it is proposed tomount the entire tube sealing mechanism or mechanisms on and in a tablestandard of convenient height with the tube sealing mechanism per $9 onthe top thereof where the actual operation of sealing may be watched andperiodically inspected, and the drive means therefor below the table topwhere it is out of the way. Traveling tube receptacles are pro-" videdin the machine in which the operator successively places tubes to besealed and each of which operates automatically to grip, rotate andrelease the tube in accordance with the sealing cycle determined uponbeforehand. The tube receiving receptacles or chucks in the present ebodiment are permanently located at a position in alignment with theassociated individual burners and also in positions aligned with theindividual upper tube gripping mechanisms. In other words, the upper andlower tube chucks and the burner make up a set and are permanentlypositioned in cooperative relation. A plurality of these sets areprovided on a traveling turret and the tube rotat'on, heating, gripping,drawing, sealing, cooling aim discharge stages or phases of the sealingopera ions occur successively and are carried through without anyrelative translation or travel of the sealing mechanisms of each set.Adjustable means preferably in the form of stationary cams are providedfor actuating the burners, the size of their flames, the chuck grippingand drawing mechanisms and tube discharging means in a harmonious cycle.

At the completion of the sealing operation the lower chuck which holdsthe main body of the tube is automatically cleared and ready to receivethe new tube, and the same applies to the upper gripping mechanism whichis arranged automatically to discharge the drawn off portion of the tubeinto a waste chute at a convenient point in the travel.

As there is a time-element involved in the heating, drawing, sealing andcooling stages, the invention proposes the combining of the multiplicityof such tube sealin mechanisms into a single compact structure and tostagger their sealing cycles so as to utilize to maximum advantage thewaiting time involved in the different stages of the sealing of any onetube. In this way the rate or number of tubes sealed per hour is theproduct of the number of successively Operating sealing machinesembodied in any one assembly. I have found that a practical andeflicient machine for this purpose may combine up to about eightindividual sealing units, for with this number the task of successivelyloading the tube receptacles does not unduly burden the attendant norresult in too large a machine structure. With due regard to the totaltime required for sealing the maximum weight or size tube, thesuccessive. starting of eight tubes on their sealin journey works outwell for this purpose. The machine is also constructed so that each ofthe eight individual sealing machines are caused to move bodily at amoderate rate past or in front of the operator's station where he mayreceive tubes from a filling machine and place them in the continuouslymoving sealing machines. The entire assembly is self-contained andconstructed and arranged to be driven at a moderate rate of speed whichmay. however, be varied to suit the speed of filling and loading and thetotal time necessary to seal off a given tube.

Other objects and advantages will be in part indicated in the followingdescription and in part rendered apparent therefrom in connection withthe annexed drawings.

To enable others skilled in the art so fully to apprehend the underlyingfeatures hereof that they may embody the same in the various wayscontemplated by this invention, drawings depicting a preferred typicalconstruction have been annexed as a part of this disclosure and, in suchdrawings, like characters of reference denote corresponding partsthroughout all the views, of which- Figure 1 is a front view of asealing machine embodying the invention, in whichv but two of the eightsealing units are illustrated.

Fig. 2 is a. side view of the sealing machine like that of Figure Imounted upon a slightly taller base, and with certain parts removed andother parts in section more clearly to illustrate the interior operatingmechanisms. The view is taken substantiall along line 2-2 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a horizontal view taken along line 33 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 4 is a horizontal view of the rotatable turret, the burner armsbeing broken away to illustrate more clearly the cam tracks and tubereceptacles and a portion of the turret removed to show the mechanismtherebeneath. The view is taken substantially along line 44 of Fig. 1.

Figs. 5 and 6 are enlarged vertical and horizontal views respectively ofa fuel distributing head. taken substantially along lines 5-5 and 56,respectively of Fig. l.

Fig. 7 is an enlarged vertical sectional view of one of the tubereceptacles and a portion of the drawing mechanism, taken on line ofFig. 4.

Fig. 8 is an enlarged view of one of the tube grippers.

Fig. 9 is a horizontal sectional view of the gripper taken along line9--9 of Fig. 8.

Fig. 10 is a horizontal sectional view through the jaws of the gripperand is taken along line Ill-l0 of Fig. 8.

Fig. 11 is a view similar to Fig. 10, but illustrating the gripper jawsin open position.

Fig. 12 is a variant form of upper gripper which is suitable for certainkinds of tubes.

Fig. 13 is a composite diagrammatic representation of a sealing cyclewhich, in connection with Figs. 14 to 21, illustrates a typical sealingoperation.

Figs. 14 to 21 illustrate the successive opera tions performed insealing a filled tube.

Fig. 22 is a plan view of a tube receptacle and a portion of the turretand illustrates a variant form of tube rotation-stopping means.

Fig. 23 is a vertical sectional view of the tube rotation-stoppingmechanism, taken substantially along line 2323 of Fig. 22.

Fig. 24 is a fragmentary view of a preferred form of mechanism forvarying the extent that a tube may be stretched.

Referring to Figures 1 and 14 to 21. the machine therein illustrated isrepresented as being set up for the sealing of fragile onion skin tubesfilled with a liquid such as ammonia, iodine, etc. Briefly the sealingcycle for these tubes is as follows: The filled tube is placed in theopen receptacle Fig. 14, then gripped, rotated and the flame applied,Fig. 15. When the glass has softened the flame is withdrawn and the tubedrawn to a capillary size, Fig. 16. After a cooling interval to ventgases generated during the heating through the capillary, the flamecomes on again and severs the tube at the drawn portion, Fig. 1'7, andthen follows the needled portion downward slightly to fuse the openingshut and form a ball seal, Figs. 18 and 19. The flame may again bewithdrawn away from the point of the tube to allow for tube cooling. Atthe same time the tube is released from the receptacle and ceasesrotating to facilitate inspection after which the chuck opens and allowsthe tube to drop into a discharge chute through an opening in the bottomof the carrier. This method and character of sealing is butrepresentative of the many types that may be performed with the presentinvention and it is to be understood that one or more of the stepsoutlined may be changed, varied or eliminated to suit the requirementsof the various types of styles of tubes or tubular receptacles.

Referring more particularly to Fig. 2, the machine comprises a. standard30 which supports a spacious top surface 3| and a rotatable turret ortable member 32. The turret 32 carries a plurality of sealing units, andthe description of one will, it is believed, suflice for them all.

With reference to Fig. 3, each sealing unit comprises essentially a.tube receptacle and tube rotating means, designated generally as 33, aburner 34 and an upper tube gripping means designated generally as 35(Fig. 8). The tube-receptacle and tube rotating means 33 comprises twocontinuously driven rollers 36 whose adiacent outer peripheries form aV-shaped notch into which a tube a is placed and normally held incontact with the peripheries of the driven rollers by a third roller 31.The three rollers together form between them a pocket or receptaclewhich receives the tube, holds it upright, and rotates it about itslongitudinal axis. The third roller 31 is carried on an adjustable lever38 which is mounted on a pivot 39. The pivot 39 is iournaled in andextends through the turret top 32 and carries at the underside of theturret top a similarly positioned lever 40 (see Fig. 4) that is normallyspring pressed toward the center of rotation of the turret. The upperend of the pivot 39 is provided with a slotted plate 39 which overlapsthe roller carrying arm 38. By means of the screw and slot connection 42therebetween, the roller arm 38 may be swung in or out, relative to theposition of the under arm 40. Normally the parts 38, 39 and 40 move as aunit during the operation of the machine. As there are eight sealingunits in the embodiment illustrated, a convenient means for urging theguide rollers 31 toward the tubes and the latter toward the drivingrolls 36, consists of a garter spring 4| which is passed around theoutside of the free ends of each of the arms 40, and which actingthrough the pivot 39, plate 39 and lever 38, urges all of the guiderollers 31 in tube gripping directions. Each of the tube receptaclesalbove mentioned, is adjustable in size merely by adjusting one of therollers, in this instance the roller 31, outwardly or inwardly as bymeans of the screw and slot connection provided between the arm 38 andthe overlying portion 39* of the pivot 39. This adjustment featurecorresponds in principle to that disclosed and described in my aforesaidPatent No. 2,258,408 at 28, 29 in Fig. 3 thereof.

Each tube receptacle is provided with its own heating means, in thisinstance in the form of a gas burner 34 whose arm extends somewhatradially of the turret and which is pivoted at its inner end at 5| inany suitable manner, as by a screw means 51 illustrated in my priorPatent No. 2,258,408, to a rotatable block 43 that rotates with theturret. Each burner is provided with a gas jet 44 which liescircumferentially ahead of the tube receptacle and approximately thesame distance radially from the center of rotation so that the flamethereof will be directed toward the axis of a rotating tube. Each burnerhas a flexible hose connection 45 with a rotating distributor head 46and a fuel gas is admitted to the latter through the supply pipe 41 andvalve 48. The fuel gas may, if expedience requires. be thinned with anair mixture furnished through pipe line 6|! and valve 5|).

Each of the pivoted burner arms 5| is provided at its outer end with anenlarged head 52 and receives therein a radially adjustable stem 53 ofthe burner. When the machine is Set up for sealing a tube of a givendiameter the burner 44 is adjusted radiall outward relative to the arm5| so as to bring the flame at the required place on the tube. Smalltubes will require an nward movement of the burner 44, whereas, largertubes require an outward movement.

The burners are caused to rotate with the turret and normally aremaintained at a fixed distance ahead of their corresponding tubereceptacles by means of a vertically disposed drive rod 54 which passesthrough a slot 55 formed at the end of one of the burner arms 5|. Thelower end of the drive rod is mounted in an adjustable bracket 56 whichis pivoted at 51 to the turret top 32, so that adjustment of the bracket56 about its pivot will cause the drive rod 54 to move circumferentiallyforward or backwards relative to a radial plane of the turret. (SeeFigs. 2. 3, 6.)

As the rod 54 extends through the slot 55 in one of the burner arms.such forward or backward movement of the rod, correspondinglyrepositions the flame end of the burners 44 further away from. or closerto. the axis of the tubes thereby to vary the spatial distance betweenthe walls of the glass tubes and the burner tips. The bracket 56 isprovided with an arcuate slot near its outer end through which a screw56 passes and threads into the turret top 32. By loosening the screw 56,the bracket 56 may be swung about its pivot 51, and the drive rod '54which is offset from the pivot 51, thereby moved ahead or to the rear ofthe position illustrated in Figs. 3 and 6. When the burners have beenadjusted relative to the axis of the receptacles to suit a given s zetube they are maintained in that position. The drive rod 54 extendsupwardly and is also connected by a sliding block 58 to a bar 59 thatextends outwardly from the gas distributing head 46. Through theconnection just mentioned the gas distributing head is moved insynchronism with the burners 44 with which it is connected by hoseconnections 45.

Coaxially positioned. above each tube receptacle is an upper tubegripping mechanism 35 which is adjustably secured by means of a thumbscrew 35 to a vertically movable rod 60. As illustrated more clearly inFigs. 9 to 11, each gripper mechanism comprises a bifurcated radiallyextending support 6| which has a keyed connection with the rod 66. Theradial arms of the support extend outwardly over the tube receptacle andsupport therebetwee-n a radially adjustable pivot block member 62. Eachgripper has mounted therein two jaw members 63 and 64 which swing aboutspaced pivots 65. The two jaws face each other and have a toggle-likeconnection 66 at their upper ends with a vertically movable link member61. As the link is moved down from the position shown in Fig. 8, thelower ends of the jaws are caused to open (Fig. 11) to receive a tubeend. The means for opening and closing the jaws on the tube includes aweighted lever 68 which is rocked about a fixed pivot 69 carried on theradially adjustable toggleblock 62. As will .be seen from Figs. 8, 10and 11, the lower end of the gripper jaw 64 is provided with twoextending fingers 64 which pass one on either side of the lower end ofthe coacting jaw 63. The inner surfaces of the jaws define asubstantially closed opening 10 into which the tube end is caused toextend prior to the time it has become heated and softened. As will behereinafter explained, the gripper is lowered with open jaws over theend of the tube at or about the time the flame is applied to a lowerportion thereof. The jaws remain open permitting the tube to rotatefreely therein and at the same time give any lateral support that may benecessary to the end of the tube as a midsection thereof softens. Whenthe heating stage has been completed the'jaws close upon the end of thetube and the gripper is quickly raised to stretch out the softenedportion to a relatively fine capillary size. Where the jaws of theripper are not so formed as to box the end of the tube before gripping,there is likelihood of the tube bending or sagging and being whirledaround at a right angle before it reaches the stretching station. Thebox ng of the end of the tube by a gripper constructed as describedprovides for free rotationof the tube therein. simultaneously supportsthe upper end of the tube against lateral forces and at the time ofgripping centers the tube end coaxial with the main body of the tube sothat when stretching occurs, the stretched portion will be centered and,therefore, un form.

Fi 12 illustrates a modified form of upper ripper in which one of thejaw members 64 is fixed a ainst pivoting motion and is shaped andadapted to enter the open end of a tube. The outer gripper jaw 63 ismounted to swing about the pivot and is connected to the link 61 andweight 88 in a manner similar to that previously explained in connectionwith Fig. 8. With a gripper of this style the stationary jaw 84 islowered into the open end of the tube and steadies same as the tubebecomes heated and softens. At the completion of the heating stage theweight 88 is caused to drop thus bringing the movable :law 88- intoclosing position on the glass tube after which the gripper is quicklyelevated to stretch out the glass at the heated area.

With both styles of ripp rs (Fig. 8 and Fig. 12) the toggle block member82 is adjustable radially in the arms of the bracket 8i to suitdifferent tube positions. Clamp nuts 88' carried on the pivot pins 89are provided to clamp the toggle block in position such that the lowerends of the jaw members are coaxially related with respect to the tube.Elongated slots 85 of the bracket arms afford a range of adjustment tosuit the center distances of a variety of tube sizes.

Main drive The main support and drive means for the turret 82 comprisesa main casting member I8 which has a projecting hub portion II keyed toand supported by bevel gear member II. The latter is internally boredand is joumaled upon a bearing I8 of a stationary bearing bracket 14.The bearing bracket I9 rests upon an adjustable shelf member 15. Byadjusting the supporting screws I8 the shelf may be raised or loweredslightly relative ,to the fixed shelf I1 thereby to position the mainsupporting bracket I8 and plate 82 carried thereby at the properelevated position and in the proper horizontal plane. Under the flxedshelf 11 there is another shelf I8 which supports a main drive motor I9,an air pump 88, and a worm wheel speed reducing mechanism 8|. A v-beltl2 drives the pump and speed reducing mechanism and power from thelatter is delivered to the mechanism on the adjustable shelf I8 througha variable speed belt drive mechanism 82'. The V-pulley at the upper endof the drive is mounted upon a shaft 88 which is journaled in a bracket84 and also in the bracket 14 secured to the adjustable shelf IS. Aclutch mechanism 88 operated b lever 88, is provided to connect anddisconnect the drive at will.

The inner end of the drive shaft 88 carries a bevel gear element 81 anda crank element 81. The bevel gear 81 meshes with the bevel gear I!whereby the latter and all the mechanisms supported thereby may beslowly turned about the I central shaft 88 which normally does notrotate.

The crank mechanism 81' operates in a slot 89 provided in a gripperelevating bracket 88. An upper surface 9I of the elevating bracket formspart of an annular cam track on which the lower ends of the gripper rods98 travel and is reciprocated vertically in timed relation with theangular movement of the gripper rods 68. Each of the rods 88 extendsthrough a relatively long bearing 91 secured to the turret 82 andcarries at its lower end a roller 88, and a laterally projecting arm 98which slides vertically on a fixed pin 95 depending from the mainsupporting bracket I8. The spacing of the rods '95 and 88 provide ampleleverage for maintaining the gripper rod 88 in a fixed angular positionthroughout its rotation about the center of the shaft 88 of the machine.Any slight wear between the arm 94 and the fixed guide 95 has littleeffect on the angularity oi' the gripper rod 88 and consequently littleor no effect upon the radial position of the upper gripper mechanism 85carried by each rod.

As will become apparent the gripper of each sealing unit is caused tolower and raise in timed relation with other of the sealing operations,and the extent or stroke of reciprocation of the gripper may be fixed orit may be adjustable to suit varying requirements. The means foreffecting gripper movement through a fixed stroke is illustrated inFigs. 2 and 4, wherein a substantially continuous annular cam track 88is provided for the purpose, and the means for effecting a variablegripper stroke is represented in Figs. 13 and 24.

with reference to Figs. 2 and 4, the annular cam 88 may be made insections if desired, and includes a raised portion 91 on which thegripper rods travel during the time the gr ppers II are heldconsiderably above the tube, a low portion 88 on which the gripper rodstravel during the time the grippers are in their lowermost position andguiding a tube, and a further raised portion 99 over which the gripperrods travel to 4 effect the release of the drawn oi! portion of thetubes from the grippers 35. Between the raised portion 91 and the lowportion 88 the cam track is provided with a relatively steep incline I89which effects a lowering of the gripper rods at or about the time thefiame is directed against the tube. At the end of the travel along thelow portion 98 the gripper rods ride of! the fixed cam '88 on thesurface 8I of the elevator bracket 88 whichis in proper position by thetime each gripper rod reaches that point. As the gripper rods progressalong the surface M of the elevator, the elevator is quickly raised, inthis instance by the crank mechanism 81* to raise the gripper rods tothe elevation where they may continue their angular motion on theelevated portion 81 of the cam track. This quick elevation occurs afterthe grippers have closed on the tube and is the stage at which the tubesare stretched to form part of the sealing operation.

In the embodiment illustrated by Figs. 13 and 24, the above referred tolow portion 88 of the annular cam track, is replaced by a verticallyadjustable cam member which is herein illustrated as a ring shapedabutment I98. In this preferred form, the abutment I98 is in the form ofa sleeve that is mounted upon and normally rotates with the main drivegear unit I! and coacts successively with each gripper.

The upper rim I99 of the abutment is radially positioned so as tointercept the descent of the respective gripper rods 88 at a selectedpoint in their travel down the incline I88 by engaging the guide arms84. Each gripper rod arm 94, as it lowers with its rod 68 is caused torest upon the rim I88 at the height to which it has been adjusted, andis carried thereby and therewith to a position over the elevatingplatform 9|. As the latter rises, it engages the roll 93 of the gripperrod and lifts same during the remaining part of the upward stroke.Normally, the elevator 88 has a fixed stroke length which is twice thelength of the crank arm 81', and in some instances of tube drawing, thefixed stroke provides for too long a pull or stretch. However, byproviding a structure wherein the gripper rods may be carried angularly,without lowering or raising, at an adjustable level, an effective meansis devised to vary the length of tube stretch.

A further advantage of the variable gripper stroke is that by suspendinggripper travel (in an axial direction) until the elevator 88 has beenstarted on its upward travel, the actual time of the tube drawingoperation is accelerated. That is, in the fixed stroke arrangement ofFig. 4, a tube travels angularly 22%; degrees during each complete halfturn of the elevating crank 81, this being for the full stroke of thegripper. With the adjustable gripper stop I98, the actual verticalmovement of the gripper may be delayed until the tube has been movedangularly through part of this 22% degrees before the elevator 90 willengage the lower end of the gripper rod 60. In other words, so much ofthe final portion of the elevating stroke may be used to effect thedesired contraction and length of pull on a given tube as may benecessary, the initial portion of the crank and elevator motions (in anupward direction) being idle.

The means for adjusting the cam I98 vertically is herein illustratedinthe form of three stepped inclines I99 (only one shown) spacedequidistantly about the sleeved portion 200. Three radial pins or screws20I, each threaded into an integral supporting part 202 of the gear 12support the sleeve in a preselected vertical position, and one or moreclamp screws 203 are provided for clamping. The steps in the inclinesI99 provide a plurality of relatively closely spaced positions ofelevation and serve as a convenient aid in ascertaining the settingrequired for a given length of gripper stroke.

While a crank mechanism has been illustrated as a means for effecting asubstantial and relatively rapid elevation of the grippers at thedrawing out stage, a cam or equivalent mechanism may be substituted toperform that function With reference more particularly to Figs. and 6,the fuel mixture for the burners enters the distributor head 46 througha central conduit 46'- in a normally stationary coned core 40''.

One or more radiating conduits 40 conduct the mixture to an annulargroove extending around the periphery of the cone at or about the planeof the individual gas connections 45' that lead to the respectiveburners. The annular groove just mentioned is made preferably of varyingcapacity, 1. e., 01' medium cross sectional area at 46 for that portionof the travel of the burner during which the glass tube is initiallyheated and softened; a restricted portion 40 for that portion of thetravel of the burner during which the tube is being stretched andcooled; and a portion 46 relatively large in cross section for thatportion of the burner travel'during which the drawn tube is severed fromthe main body and the sealing completed.

In the representative cycle herein illustrated, the portion of minimumcross sectional area, allows just enough fuel gas to enter theparticular burner conduit passing at that time as will keep theassociated burner lit, but not enough to produce any substantial flamesuch as would interfere or retard the cooling of the drawn portion. Byloosening the set screw 40 and adjusting the cone 40 angularly on thestationary shaft 00, the flame reducing portion of the channel may bepositioned properly with respect to other 'and,

cooperating functions of the apparatus. For tube drawing and sealingthat does not require a cooling period between stages, the restrictedportion 46 may be modified accordingly, and other portions of theannular groovemodifled or proportimed to suit the requirements.

In the present embodiment of the invention, there is also aself-contained air supply and n1- tering system including the pump 00,an air filter l0, and an air chamber 00*. Air enters the illaer throughline 00 and after bubbling through I the sealed tube, and the lattercools again. As

valve 40 to the the liquid in the bowl thereof where dust particles areextracted, it is drawn through the screen therein, and through pipe line00 and to the intake side of the pump. Air discharged from the pumppasses through a line to the pulsation dampening chamber 80 and a lineIii) leadsfrom the top of the chamber to the valve 50 and to a mixingvalve 80 located at the top of. the distributor head. Any liquid thatmay collect in the air chamber 80 may be drawn off at the bottom througha valve 80 With such a system built into a machine, a supply of cleanair is always available to vary the intensity of the burner flame inaccordance with the requirement of the glass to be heated as well as toadapt the machine to different grades or qualities of gaseous fuel.

Burner operating mechanism Normally each burner 44 as it approaches andpasses the loading station has its flame end positioned relatively highand out of contact with the tube. This position is representeddiagrammatically in Fig. 13 at station marked I which may be regarded asthe loading station. The raised position of the flame is occasionedby'the action of a roller iIa in coaction with a normally stationaryannular cam member IOI. As the burner arm rotates about the center 88the roller tracks the top of the cam and reaches the decline surface IOIthereof and the flame end 44 is lowered to the proper position on thetube. At or about this point, the size of the flame is automaticallyadjusted by the distributing head and intensity required for softeningThe heating progresses through stations 2 and 3 and just before thegrippers take hold and before stretching begins, the flame is reducedand the tube is then immediately stretched out.

During the heating stage the burner roller is riding on the top surfaceof a vertically adjustable cam carrying plate I02 which is fixed to theshaft 80.

As the stretching of the softened portion of the tube reachescompletion, the lower portion is released from the chuck 03 so that thecapillary is not twisted off. Meanwhile the burner (with name reduced)is raised by the action of cam surface I03 of another cam I03, and theburner and non-rotating tube travel through a cooling sector representedat station 5 in Fig. 13. During this cooling period, gases generatedwithin the tube are vented through the capillary portion.

At the completion of the travel through the cooling sector, the burneris lowered to a predetermined point and the flame quickly increasedenough to sever the drawn tube at the capillary portion, and then isgradually lowered (by movement along decline I03 of the cam I03) to fuseand form a bailed seal on the needled end of the tube. At the beginningor the sealing operation the severed portion of the tube is againgripped by the lower chuck and rotated. When the seal is completed theburner is lifted by cam surface I04 of another adjustable cam I04, awayfrom the glass tube.

the turret rotates the burner roller 5Ia reaches the incline IIII of camII and the flame is lifted still further to raise it above the dischargechute I05" to the elevated position previously mentioned.

In the present embodiment, three independently adjustable cams areemployed in the sealing cycle outlined. For a single purpose machine,

a single cam of the proper contour may be devised but where the machinemay be used for sealing a variety of tubes the adjustability ofindividual cams is an important aid in obtaining the correct operatingcycle and the correct starting, duration and stopping point of eachphase thereof. For example, when sealing a thick walled tube, the flameshould be applied to the tube longer and the cam IOI is adjusted back sothat the flame lowers sooner. For this purpose the cams IOI and I04 aremade relatively extensible, i. e., their total arcuate length may beincreased or decreased as desired. To that end, the larger cam IN isrecessed at |I to receive a ortion of the cam I04, and either end of theextensible cam IOI-I04 may be advanced or retracted independently ortogether to produce the required burner action Each of the cam platesIOI, I03, I04 is provided with inwardly projecting flanges arcuatelyslotted to receive clamping screws I05 by which the respective cam maybe clamped to the vertically adjustable plate I02.

Gripper closing mechanism Starting with the gripper closed (Fig. 8), thelowering of the rod 60, on the portion I00 of the cam track, is timed tooccur when the weighted end 88 of the gripper 35, carried by the rod, isdirectly over a stepped abutment IIO (Figs. 1, 2 and 4).Continued'descent of the weighted lever is prohibited by the abutmentH0, and therefore the continued downward movement of the rod 80 and thegripper parts, causes the jaws of the gripper to open. The turret,gripper rod 60, and gripper carried thereby are meanwhile rotating, andthe end 88 of the gripper actuating lever moves of! the top Of the fixedabutment I I0 and proceeds down the steps IIO thereof. The steps I I0maintain the gripper jaws in the open position illustrated in Fig. 1 (atthe left) as the whole assembly lowers, and in this way the gripper jawsare held open as they are lowered about the tube end. When the gripperassembly reaches its lowest point (determined by the adjustable abutmentI88) the weighted end 88 of the gripp r actuating lever is hangin uponthe adjustable extension III of the abutment H0 and the jaws of thegripper are still held open. Before the tube stretching stage isreached, however, the lever 88 will ride off the inclined end III of theextension III and gradually move clockwise (in Fig. 8) about its thenstationary pivot 63 and the gripper jaws close on the tube and gripssame. This gripping of the tube occurs just before the gripper rod, andits angular travel, reaches the elevating platform and begins to raise.

The gripper actuating abutments IIO, III and I40 are supported from thecenter of the machine by a vertically adjustable support I4I (Fig. 1)that surrounds the shaft 88 and is a companion part to the verticallyadjustable supporting plate I02. The rotatable block 43 that pivotallymounts the burner arms 5| is journaled intermediate the collar portionof the support I, and the hub of the cam plate I02, as illustrated inFigs. 1 and 2. The support I4I is also provided with an extension I4I(illustrated in Fig. 4) to which the lower end of an adjusting screw I42is secured. The upper end of the screw I42 passes through a hole in acollar I42, secured to the shaft 88, and mounts a manually operablewing-nut I42 The screw and nut mechanism,

just mentioned, affords a convenient means for effecting verticaladjustment of the gripper acaavaass tuating abutments IIO, III, and I40,burner arms 5|, and supporting plate I02 along the shaft 08 in adaptingthe machine to a given length tube.-

Lower chuck actuating mechanism As hereinbefore mentioned the lowerchuck of each of the tube sealing units comprises a pair of drivenrollers 36 and a relatively movable third roller 31. Each roller 38carries at its underside a gear 38 and meshes with a stationary annularring gear 36' that is supported by a plurality of brackets 36. Thebrackets 38 are generally U-shaped to provide an opening 36 between theupstanding legs thereof, through which the roll mounting brackets 36 maypass in their travels about the stationary gear. The other leg of thebrackets 38 support at their upper ends an annular tube track 38' onwhich the lower ends of the tubes a rest as they are moved about th axisof the turret.' A plurality of supporting rods 36' support thestationary gear 38' and the tube track 38 in fixed spacial relation andconcentric with the rotatable main support 10. Each of the rollers 38has an intermediate bearing portion 38 that is journaled in a bearingprovided in the rotating plate 32 and this hearing in addition to thesupport provided by the bars 38. which are also secured to the rotatableplate 32, maintain the axis of the rolls perpendicular and the gears 38'thereof permanently in mesh with the fixed gear 38*. As illustrated moreclearly in Figs. 7 and 23, each oi the rolls 38 partly overlays thesurface of the turret plate 32 which in turn overlays the stationarygear 38. In consequence of this overlaying relationship, any bits ofglass or other particles of foreign matter that may be picked up by therolls are caused to be deposited upon the surface of the plate 32 andare prevented from working into the bearing 38 or into the teeth of thedrive gears 38*- and impeding or jamming their action. As the plate 32rotates the gears of the rollers roll about the fixed gear thus causingthe rolls 30 to revolve as they travel about the turret axis.

At predetermined points in the sealing cycle the receptacles 33 arecaused automatically to open or close thus to release the tube fromdriving contact of the rolls 38. The opening and closing cycle willdepend upon the nature or style of the tube to be sealed. In the presentembodiment the receptacle is caused automatically to open and closethree times and this is effected by the coaction of one or more camswith a roller 40 carried by the lever 40 of each tube receptacle at theunderside of the rotating plate 32. With reference particularly to Figs.4, 'l and 13, contour cams I20 and I2I serve this purpose. Each of thesecams is mounted to the underside of the tube track 38' and supportedagainst movement by the supportin rods 38'. Fig. 4 illustrates three ofthe rollers 40' riding on the periphery of the cam I20 and in theposition illustrated the associated tube receptacles 33 are open. Withreference to the receptacle at station marked I in Fig. 4. the thirdroller 31 is held some distance away from the rolls 3i permitting thefree insertion of a tube. The tube rests upon the underlying tube track36' and is carried along to station 2, but before the tube reaches thatstation the roller 40 moves down the incline I20 of the fixed cam andthe roller 31 is caused to close upon the tube by the action of thecontinuous spring 4i and the tube is rotated. At this point the burneris in position to heat the rotating tube, and heating and rotatingcontinues (through station marked 3) until the tube approaches thestation 4 where the tube is stretched out at the softened area into ashape illustrated in Fig. 16. As the tube approaches station 4, theroller 40 engages the surface IlI of the cam I2I, and is movedoutwardly, which movement, through the connected levers 40 and 38 movesthe tube engaging roller 31 away from the tube a. The tube a is therebyreleased from the grip of the receptacle and is no longer rotating atthe time the gripper grips the upper end of the tube and draws out thesoftened region thereof. During the drawing operation the flame isreduced and remains reduced until the tube reaches station when theflame is again applied to sever the tube at the drawn out portion.Immediately thereafter the receptacle actuating roller 40 rides off theinclined end I2I of the cam I2I and the garter spring 4| rocks levers.

40 and 38 and the roller 31 against the tube and the latter against thedriven rollers 36. The severed tube is thus caused to rotate as theburner flame lowers (along incline I03 of the cam I03) and finishes theseal. (Station 6.) As the sealing is finished, the burner flame movesupwardly, away from the sealed end of. the tube, by reason of the burnersupporting roller 5| engaging the incline I04 of the cam I04. As thesealed tube approaches station 'I, the receptacle actuating roller 40engages the cam surface I and again opens the receptacle and releasesthe tube from the driven rollers 36. Tube rotation then stops permittingexamination to be made of the end thereof as it is carried (throughstation 1) toward the'discharge chute I at station 8. Fig; 13illustrates the cycle diagrammatically as well as the relative positionsof cooperating elements.

To facilitate the automatic discharge of the sealed tubes the tube track36, is provided with an opening 30 centrally located over the dischargechute I30. As the sealed tube nears the discharge opening, the thirdroller. 31 again closes on the tube by reason 0f the roller droppinginto a depression 120 of the fixed cam I20. By so gripping 'the'tube thetube is held against dropping until it is carried to the approximatecenter of the opening in the tube track where it is released by theengagement of the roller 40 with an incline I20 This final grip-' pingof the tube and carrying it over the brink of the opening to theapproximate center thereof insures that the tube does not tip or kantuntil it is in position to fall ,freely into the discharge chute. Afterpassing the discharge opening the receptacle closes partially and isready to receive a new tube. The cams and the operation herein explainedis representative of a typical operating cycle and manifestly may beadjusted or varied to suit any particular sealing cycle that the natureof the tubes in hand require or will permit.

Ordinarily, a softened glass tube may be drawn without causing anyappreciable lifting of an unclamped bottom portion, but where there maybe some irregularity or non-uniformity in wall thickness, each of aseries of tubes may not reach the same degree of plasticity during theheating stage and some may lift slightly if unclamped.

To guard against such lifting an auxiliary clamping device illustratedby Figs. 22 and 23 may be associated with each sealing unit. This devicecomprises a lever I that is pivoted to each of the roll carrying blocks36 and extends upwardly into the V between the drive rolls 36. Asupplementary cam I5I mounted to the underside of the tube track 30projects inwardly and is engaged by the lower end of the lever I50 atthe selected point or points in its travel. As the lever is engaged bythe cam and rocked, the upper end thereof moves out of the V between thedrive rollers and presses the tube away from the drive rolls and towardthe third roller 31 as the latter is moved to its releasing position bythe action of one or more of the cams I20, I2I. In this way the tube maybe released from its driving rollers and at the same time clamped orheld against lifting. The amount of movement of the third roller 31 toeffect release of a tube from the drive rolls is, it will be understood,quite small, and the amount of movement of the clamp lever I50 iscorrespondingly small.

Gripper release mechanism After the'upper portion of a tube has beendrawn and severed as herein explained, the upper gripper remainselevated and holds the severed portion of the tube out of the way duringthe completion of the sealing on the lower portion. When the travelinggripper reaches a point just before station 8 the gripper rod 60 ridesup a small incline 99 on the cam 96 causing a slight further elevationof the gripper assembly to take place just before the assembly reaches astationary tripping abutment I40. When the weighted end of lever 68 ofthe gripper is directly over the abutment I40 the gripper rod 60 dropsoff of the raised portion 99 of the cam track and leaves the weightedend of lever 60 suspended upon the top of the trip rod I40. The relativemovement thus brought about between the gripper rod 60 and the lever 68,causes the gripper to open and release the tube end portion and thelatter falls into a chute I05 and is discharged away from the machineinto a receptacle. The continued travel of the turret moves the weight68 off the abutment I40 and brings the gripper mechanism to the declineI00 in the cam track and to the stepped abutment H0 and the cycle isabout to be repeated.

Without further analysis, thefore'going will so fully reveal the gist ofthis invention that others can, by applying current knowledge, readilyadapt it for various utilizations by retaining one or more of thefeatures-that, from the standpoint of the prior art, fairly constituteessential characteristics of either the generic or specific aspects ofthis invention and, therefore, such adaptations should be, and areintended to be, comprehended within the meaning and range of equivalencyof the following claims.

vHaving thus revealed this invention, I claim as new and desire tosecure the following combinations and elements, or equivalents thereof,by Letters Patent of the United States: I

1. A machine for sealing a partly 'filled tube comprising a tubereceptacle for supporting a partly filled tube at its lower end, saidreceptacle in part comprising means for rotating the tube about its axiswhile it is supported thereby, a burner mechanism having a burner tipelement positioned adjacent the receptacle for heating the empty portionof the tube close to the contents in the filled portion, a non-rotatinggripper positioned above the tube receptacle to loose- 1y guide theupper end of the tube during the heating period, actuating meansoperatively connected to the gripper for causing said gripper to gripthe upper end of the tube at the end of the heating period andthereafter to raise the said end whereby the heated part of the tubewill be elongated and a partial closure formed, means operativelyconnected to the burner mechanism to render said burner mechanisminefiective prior to the actuation of said gripper mechanism, to furtherheat the tube; and additional means operatively associated with saidtube rotatin means for suspending the action of said tube rotating meansat the end of the heating period and for continuing said tube rotatingmeans inefiective during the tube-gripping and-tube-elongating action ofsaid gripper mechanism, and means operatively connected to said burnermechanism and operative subsequent to said gripping and elongatingactuation of said gripper to render said burner efi'ective to sever thefilled and empty portions of the tube at the elongated region thereofand to complete the sealing of the filled portion close to the contents.

2. The combination set forth in claim 1 in which said gripper-actuatingmeans includes a crank member normally operative to move said gripper apredetermined distance axially of the tube, a reciprocable grippersupporting rod cooperatively related therewith, said rod having anextension, and an adjustable element interposedin the path or movementof said gripper rod extension to limit the distance said gripper rod ismoved in response to the action of said crank member to a selectedfraction of said predetermined distance.

3. The combination set forth in claim 1 including means operativelyconnected with the burner mechanism to adjust the burner tip element ofsaid burner mechanism selectively toward and away from the axis ofrotation of the tube.

4..Ihe combination set forth in claim 1 including means operativelyassociated with the tube rotating means operative shortly after saidburner is rendered eflective to sever and complete the sealing of thefilled portion of the tube to ain render said tube rotating meansefiective.

5. A machine for sealing a partly filled tube comprising a movablecarrier, a plurality of tube receptacles for supporting partly filledtubes at their lower ends mounted'to said carrier, each of saidreceptacles in part comprising means for rotating a tube about its axiswhile it is supported therebyfa carrier-mounted burner mechanismassociated with each receptacle having a burner tip element positionedadjacent the receptacle for heating the empty portion of the tube closeto the contents in the filled portion during a portion of the movementof the carrier, a normally closed non-rotating gripper mounted to thecarrier and positioned above each of the tube receptacles, actuatingmeans operatively connected to each of the grippers for causing saidgrippers successively to open and to grip the upper ends of the tubes atthe end of the respective heating period and thereafter to raise thesaid ends during a further move-v ment of the carrier whereby the heatedpart of the tubes will be elongated and a partial closure formed, meansoperatively connected to each of the burner mechanisms to render eachburner mechanism successively ineffective prior to the actuation of saidgripper mechanism to heat the propelling said carrier and parts carriedthereby in a closed path, relatively stationary means operativelyassociated with said tube rotating means during the movement of thecarrier for successively suspending the action of each of said tuberotating means at the end of the respective heating periods and forcontinuing each of said tube rotating means ineffective during therespective tube-gripping and tube-elongating actions 01' each of saidgripper mechanisms; and means operatively connected to each of saidburner mechanisms and operative subsequent to said gripping andelongating actuation of said grippers to render the respective burnerssuccessively efiective to sever the filled and empty portions or thetubes at the elongated regions thereof and to complete the sealing ofthe filled portions close to the contents.

6. The combination set forth in claim 5 includin means common to andoperatively connected with all of the said burner mechanisms to adjustthe burner tip element or each of said tube positioned in its relatedreceptacle, means for burner mechanisms relative to its associated tubereceptacles selectively toward and away from the axis of rotation of thetube.

7. The combination set forth in claim 5 including means operativelyassociated with the tube rotating means of each receptacle and operativeshortly after each of said burners is rendered successively effective tosever and complete the sealing of the filled portion of the tube toagain render the tube rotating means of each receptacle efi'ective insuccession.

8. A machine for sealing a partly filled tube comprising a tubereceptacle for supporting a tube at its lower end, said receptacle inpart comprising normally operative means for rotating the tube about itsaxis while it is supported thereby, a movable burner mechanism having aburner tip element positioned adjacent the receptacle for heating thetube intermediate its ends, a normally closed non-rotating gripperpositioned above the tube receptacle, actuatin means operativelyconnected to the gripper for causing said gripper to open and to gripthe upper end of the tube at the end oi the heating period andthereafter to raise the said end whereby the heated part of the tubewill be elongated and a partial closure formed at the heated region,means operatively connected to the burner mechanism to render saidburner mechanism inefiective prior to the actuation of said grippermechanism to further heat the tube and additional means operativelyassociated with said tube rotating means for suspending the action ofsaid tube rotating means at the end of the heating period and forcontinuing said tube rotating means inefiective during the tube-grippingand tube elongating action of said gripper mechanism, and meansoperatively connected to said burner mechanism and operative subsequentto said gripping and elongating actuation of said gripper to render saidburner efiective to sever the tube at the elongated region thereof andto complete the sealing of the portion held in the receptacle.

FRANK J. COZZOLI.

